Anthropology and Spanish & Latin American Studies, MA

Anthropology and Spanish & Latin American Studies, MA

Introduction

Anthropology and Spanish & Latin American Studies at Aberdeen is a great study combination, adding to a thorough grounding in what it means to ‘be human’, with an in-depth study of a major modern European language and culture. You will have the flexibility of a five or four-year degree and the language, perspective and skills you will develop will open up a wide range of career options including with an international flavour.

Did you know? Anthropology at Aberdeen is ranked 1st in the UK for Overall Student Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2024)

Study Information

At a Glance

Learning Mode
On Campus Learning
Degree Qualification
MA
Duration
48 months
Study Mode
Full Time
Start Month
September
UCAS Code
LR46

Anthropology will give you a thorough grounding in humanity, the differences in human cultures and communities and how they have developed. You will gain a unique insight into behaviours, beliefs and attitudes all over the world, and find connections between aspects of life such as family, economics, politics and religion.

Combining this study with a language spoken by 350 million native Spanish speakers in 19 Latin American states, the Spanish Peninsula, and increasingly in the US, is highly appealing to employers operating in increasingly global markets.

Spanish & Latin American Studies at Aberdeen has an outstanding reputation, with the highest possible rating of ‘Excellent’ in the last national Teaching Quality Assessment. You will be equipped to communicate in a global language and widen your studies with Spanish-language literature, films and visual culture.

As an integral part of your 4-year programme, you will spend half of year three developing your language skills as a teaching assistant or visiting student in a Spanish-speaking country.

The combination of skills you will graduate with will have special appeal to employers in European and international business – including the energy sector which is of growing importance to Latin American economies – and in many other fields where people, cultures, and international outlook feature strongly, including NGOs and international development.

What You'll Study

Compulsory Courses

Optional Courses

Select one of the following options:

Intermediate

  • Spanish Language 2 (SP1028)
  • Spanish Language 3 (SP2525)

Advanced

  • Spanish Language 3 (SP2525)

All options will also select:

  • Encountering the Other in Iberia and the Americas (SP1038) AND/OR Latin America: A Cultural History (SP1536)

Plus select further credit points from courses of choice to reach 120 credit points.

We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

  • Individual Projects
  • Lectures
  • Research
  • Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

  • coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course;
  • practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and
  • written examinations at the end of each course.

The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.

Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Why Study Anthropology and Spanish & Latin American Studies?

  • Aberdeen is one of the fastest-growing Anthropology departments in the UK
  • Study at a nationally and internationally renowned university for Anthropology.  The University of Aberdeen is ranked 3rd in the UK for Anthropology and Archaeology (Guardian University Guide 2025), 4th in the UK for Anthropology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025) and in the Global Top 100 for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
  • Aberdeen is ranked 1st in the UK for overall student satisfaction in Anthropology (National Student Survey 2024)
  • Our core staff specialise in regions as diverse as Canada, the Central Asian Republics, Iceland and Scandinavia, Siberia, Scotland and the UK, South America, Tibet and the Himalayas
  • We offer innovative ideas and a fresh vision of the subject, with an emphasis throughout on work at the cutting-edge of the discipline and research
  • A vibrant student anthropology society regularly organises academic and social events bringing together undergraduate and postgraduate students with staff outside the classroom
  • Spanish & Latin American Studies at Aberdeen is a dynamic and successful department. Its national teaching rating is 'excellent'
  • Courses give equal weight to the study of Spanish and Latin-American cultures
  • The Department's programmes are multi-disciplinary; students have the opportunity to study visual culture, literature, history, politics and anthropology in relation to Spain and/or Latin America
  • Spanish is the second most widely spoken language after English in the western hemisphere and is currently spoken by 350 million native Spanish speakers in nineteen Latin American states and a large part of the Iberian Peninsula. Not only is it the second language in many parts of the USA, but Spanish is also the fastest growing modern language in the UK

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.

View the Aberdeen Global Scholarship

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.


General Entry Requirements

SQA Highers

Standard: BBBB

Applicants who have achieved BBBB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.

Minimum: BBC

Applicants who have achieved BBC at Higher and meet one of the widening participation criteria above are encouraged to apply and are guaranteed an unconditional offer for MA, BSc and BEng degrees. 

Adjusted: BB

Applicants who have achieved BB at Higher, and who meet one of the widening participation criteria above are encouraged to apply and are guaranteed an adjusted conditional offer for MA, BSc and BEng degrees.

We would expect to issue a conditional offer asking for one additional C grade at Higher. 

Foundation Apprenticeship: One FA is equivalent to a Higher at A. It cannot replace any required subjects.

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

A LEVELS

Standard: BBC

Minimum: BCC

Adjusted: CCC

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

International Baccalaureate

32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.

Irish Leaving Certificate

5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

Entry from College

Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/articulation for more details.

The information displayed in this section shows a shortened summary of our entry requirements. For more information, or for full entry requirements for Arts and Social Sciences degrees, see our detailed entry requirements section.


English Language Requirements

To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

IELTS Academic:

OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

TOEFL iBT:

OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

PTE Academic:

OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:

OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Read more about specific English Language requirements here.

Fees and Funding

You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.

Fee information
Fee category Cost
EU / International students £20,800
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year
Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme - See full terms and conditions
Home Students £1,820
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year
RUK £9,535
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year

Financial support for your study year abroad

We provide funding to students starting in 2021/22 on degrees with a compulsory period abroad at the same level as the Turing funding. This financial support can be used towards rent in your new city overseas, general living costs, or travelling to see more of your new home country. Students going abroad will continue to pay their normal rate of tuition fees with no increased charges or need to change tuition fee arrangements to the host university. For a full overview of how the tuition fees work, you can check this helpful funding table on our website.

Additional Fees

  • In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
  • For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.

Scholarships and Funding

UK Scholarship

Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who pay tuition fees may be eligible for specific scholarships allowing them to receive additional funding. These are designed to provide assistance to help students support themselves during their time at Aberdeen.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme. More about this funding opportunity.

Funding Database

View all funding options in our Funding Database.

Careers

  • Anthropology in Hispanic speaking countries and organisations
  • Academic Researcher or Consultant
  • Social Researcher
  • Museum and Gallery Curator
Image for useful fact about this Degree

Useful Fact about this Degree

Aberdeen is ranked 3rd in the UK for Anthropology and Archaeology (Guardian University Guide 2025) and in the Global Top 100 for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)

Our Experts

Information About Staff Changes

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni draws together comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study. You can compare these and other data for different degree programmes in which you are interested.

Anthropology and Spanish & Latin American Studies (4 yrs) at University of Aberdeen

To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.

Make an informed choice.

See course info

link opens in new tab

Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX

Social Media

University of Aberdeen
Chat with us!